Dominate Showbiz: Media Tycoon Discovered My Talent-Chapter 104: Kaija Is Busy Today

Charles’s face darkened at her response. Her judgment wasn’t wrong, yet he was still deeply displeased that he’d only learned about it through Antony.

"Listen," he said, pushing those feelings aside and refocusing on the matter at hand. "I just found out, after speaking with the panel members, that the voting was manipulated and the results were not decided based on objective judgment.

"It should have been you who won last night. They only voted for Liisi Grant because they wanted to use her artist status to boost the show, while to them, you were just a trainee with no reputation yet.

"Unfortunately, my older brother, whom you must have seen last night, had something to do with that. I’ll explain everything to you properly later, but right now, the campus is surrounded by the press and your fans.

"The panel suggested that you make your debut earlier than intended. And I’ll be honest with you, we made this decision mainly to redirect public attention from the results and to protect the festival’s and KE’s reputation."

Kaija fell completely speechless. She was glad she’d set her boba aside earlier.

No wonder Karl had screamed into the phone. Right now, even she felt like screaming too.

"M-me? Debuting?" she stuttered. "But... are you sure?"

"I know it’s a rushed decision," Charles replied with a long sigh, "as the CEO of the label, I believe it’s a sound solution to this disaster, and a way to make it up to you."

Then his voice softened. "But... as your Charles, I want to ask you one thing. Do you think you’re ready to debut?

"Because if you don’t think you’re ready yet, tell me right now. I’ll find every other way possible to handle this without forcing you to clean up the mess my subordinates have created."

The phone went still in Kaija’s hand. Had she heard that right, or had he just called himself her Charles?

How could this man just drop something so confessional in the middle of such a dire situation? She shook her head sharply, trying to dispel the heat rushing to her face.

But when she thought about it... now that Charles had asked, she had to take it seriously.

After experiencing what it felt like to stand on a stage that large, to be under the limelight, she was no longer the same person who had walked onto the KE campus on her first day, unsure whether she even belonged there.

She remembered the adrenaline rushing through her veins, striking her so numb she could do nothing but let the music carry her away.

She remembered the look on the crowd’s faces the moment her name wasn’t called during the announcement.

They had looked at her with yearning in their gazes, their faces taut with both loss and confusion at the name being called.

In that brief moment, she had wished she’d seen smiles and joy on those faces instead.

She wished she could have done better, to win the night, not just for them, but also for the four people who had helped make her performance possible, and for that mysterious person who had given her the beautiful blue dress as well.

But now, Charles was telling her she hadn’t won just because she was still a nameless trainee?

A bitter smirk lifted on her face as her features sharpened with absolute certainty in her answer.

"Charles, I’m ready," she said, her voice firm and steady.

Next to her, the tension that had been etched across Karl’s face this entire time finally eased, hearing the shift in her tone.

On the other end, a smile lifted on Charles’s face.

"Good," he replied softly. "Then I’ll make sure everything is set up and ready for you."

Then the smile faded, his brow furrowing as he asked, "But where did Karl Hanski take you?"

"I’m at Boba World now," she replied quickly. "It’s a super-duper cool place."

"Hmm, boba?" he mused.

He had no idea where that boba place was, but from the way her tone brightened when she mentioned it, he could already tell she was having a good time.

"If that’s the case..." he murmured, having made up his mind, "why don’t you enjoy a really good boba tea there, and get me one as well when you come back?"

Sitting across from Charles at the large oval table, Esko’s eyes widened slightly.

He was the only one left in the conference room now that the other panel members had departed, waiting for further instructions from his boss regarding his artist.

But... had he heard that right? Had the boss just told Kaija to keep enjoying herself instead of returning immediately?

Still, he kept his mouth shut as the call continued.

"Sure. What do you want to have?" Kaija asked.

"I like it the same way as our first dinner at the restaurant," Charles said, "with everything you like in it."

"Okie-dokie," Kaija replied. "I’ll try to get back early, then. You definitely have to try boba from this place. It’s mind-blowingly good."

"I trust your judgment," Charles said, his voice indulgent. "And no need to come back early. Just let me know when you’re back."

With a final smile and good bye, the call came to an end, and his attention finally turned to Esko sitting quiet all this time.

"I need you to find the Head of PR and tell him to cancel the press meeting immediately," Charles said. "Tell the reporters to come back tomorrow. Inform them that Kaija Sepala is busy today and that we won’t be issuing any official statement until tomorrow."

"But, sir..." Esko replied, scratching his head nervously. "What if they don’t come back tomorrow? It seems to me that today would be a better opportunity to introduce Kaija, since everyone is still fired up about her performance."

"In my experience, the longer people are denied what they want, the more it burns inside them," Charles replied firmly. "Besides, Kaija is busy today."

Esko flinched slightly at the steely tone. "I understand, sir!" He rose from his chair and bowed deeply. "I’ll head to the PR department right away."

With that, the green-haired manager quickly disappeared through the door.

Just as Charles was about to return to his office, his phone vibrated. His eyes widened once more upon seeing the name on the screen.

"You’ve surprised me enough for one day," Charles said flatly into the phone. "First you texted me, now you’re calling me too?"

"It’s important," Antony replied, tone equally flat. "What would happen to the winner of the festival, if that person violated the festival’s rules?"

"Then that person will be stripped off the title along with the cash prize," Charles replied, "no matter who that is."

"And the person in the second place would take them both rightfully?"

"Indeed."

The corner of Antony’s mouth lifted. "Would destroying a fellow competitor’s performance outfit count as violating the rules? Because right now, I have enough evidence to prove that Liisi Grant was the one destroying Kaija’s performance outfit before the show."